Garment or ironing press



Dec. 12, 1933. E AVIS 1,939,000

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Original Filed March 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T me 7 20 I 42 42 59 EA o O I I 75 4 50 l I 7.9 a 2 J o 49 5 0 6.9 Q

z I/ a 70 I I g; 27 9 9 ,7 JZ I I I ll o Z X; "23 4+ 7 0 1 J5 3 X5 l4 5 INVENTOR.

Warm

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 12, 1933. DAVE; 1,939,000

GARMENT OR IRONING PRESS Original Filed March 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

a @WM ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES GARMENT R IRONING PRESS Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application March 29, 1929,'Serial No. 351,032

' Renewed April 25, 1933 23 Claims.

This invention relates to power garment and laundry or ironng pressing machines and has for its object a particularly simple and efiicient actuating and controlling mechanism therefor and particularly a controlling mechanism whereby the operator controls the preliminary closing of the press in much the same way that a foot operated press is controlled and with the same operation and same thought or mental reaction 19 underlying the closing operation as in foot presses.

With a foot press, the operator lays the garment or work-on the lower pressing element or jaw and oftentimes, while holding the work,

stretched to prevent itsbecoming disarranged, he steps on the pedal lightly to start the movable element or head down toward closed position and withdraws his hand at the last minute or moment, before applying heavy pressure on the foot pedal. The natural mental reaction which safeguards the operator is that he would not step on the pedal heavily and leave his hand in position to be caught and injured between the jaws. 'In other words, the same unconscious thought of the operator which controls the movement of his foot or leg muscle in applying heavyv pressure to a foot operated press, automatically controls the withdrawing of his hand for a. foot controlled power operated press. In the operation of foot presses, the operators hand is seldom, if ever,

caught between the pressing elements.

The invention consists inthe novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters designate. corresponding parts in all the views. p

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press embody- 4 ing my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation and partlydiagrammatic, of a portion of, the actuating mechanism and controlling means therefor. The garmentor ironing press comprises generally, cooperating pressing elements or'jaws, one of wh'ch is movable toward and from the other,

two step power means foractuating the movable element first toward the other element into a position close to the otherelement or in light contact therewith, and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, and a two step operating means for controlling the opera.- tion of the power meansthrough'thetwo steps. My invention is here shownv as embodied in the standard type of press, the cooperating pressing elements of which are .a stationary jaw, buck or lower pressing element 1 and a movable jaw, press head or upper pressing element 2 which is movable towardand from the buck 1, the buck being supported on a suitable bracket 3 which in turn is mounted upon the table 4 of a frame 5. The head 2 is usually carriedat the front end of a yokelever 6'pivoted between its ends at 7 to a standard 8 rising from the frame.

The press is'operated by power means acting through motion transmitting mechanism on the rear arm of the yoke lever 6.

The press here illustrated is shown as operated by pressure operated motor means having two step operation. The motor meanshere illustrated comprises a cylinder 9 having a piston 10 movable therein, which iscarried upon the rod 11. The piston rod 11 is pivoted at 12 to the forwardly extending arm of an angle lever 14 which is pivoted at 15 at its angle to the base of the frame, the other arm 16 of the lever extending upwardly and being pivoted at 17 at its upper end to the lower end of a link 18. The link 18 is pivoted at 19 to the rear arm of. the yoke lever 6. The motor means further comprises a second cylinder 20 having a piston 21 movable therein, the rod 22 of which is pivoted at '19 to the rear arm of the yoke lever 6. Both pistons are single acting and the press is opened by countersprings 23, 24 when the pressure in the cylinders is released. The cylinders are oscillatably mounted so as to swing'or oscillate during the movement of the yoke lever 6 and the angle lever 14.

Thetwo step operating orcontrol means comprises a single operator actuated member which actuates two sets of .control members to operate them successively, and means is provided for preventing a continuous operation of the operating means through the two steps or for restraining the'operation of the operating member at the end of the first step, or after the control member which controls/the first step is operated.

As the motor particularly described herein is pressure or fluid'operated, the control members are valves and in order that the operation of the pressfmay be similar to foot presses, the operating means includes'a pedal as the operator actuated member. The control of the press by a pedal to first preliminarily close it and then finally close the press is particularly good when operating on certain classes of work.

The members, means or valves for controlling 110 so Y of the exhaust valve 26.

. little or no pressure.

the cylinder 9.

- me mber to the valves.

end of the casing 27 is connected to a feed pipe 29 and the intermediate part of the; casing between the valves 25, 26 is connected by a pipe 30 to a port 31 at the intake end of "the cylinder 20. The valves are operated by a lever 32 pivoted at 33 to a bracket on the valve casing, one arm of the lever thrusting against the stem 34 Obviously, closing of the exhaust valve 26 and opening of the intake valve 27 will permit the air to pass from the feed line 29 through the valve casing 27,,and pipe 30, to the cylinder 20 to actuate the piston 21 therein and hence, through the piston rod 22, to preliminarily close the press or bring the head down over the buck or on the buck with The cylinder 20 is not large enough to apply heavy pressure after the head 2 encountersthe work on the .buck l. The springs .24 may be adjusted to counteract the force of the piston 21 when the head 2 is over and close to the work-on the book 1. The piston 21 has sufficient throw or is capable of an additional extent of movement so as. to permit thehead 2 tobe moved under heavy pressure against the' buck 1 by the piston 10-.

The control members, means or valves for the main cylinder 9 'arersubstantially the same as those for the cylinder 20 and comprise, a nor-' mally'closed,'spring-pressedzintake valve 35, and anormally open exhaust valve 36' in 'a casing 37, the valves being connected by a stem 38. The intake end of the casing 37 is connected to a feed line 39 and the middle partof'cthe'casing between the valves is connected to a. pipe 40 which through additional valve mechanism or control member and conduits communicates with the cylinderQ, The valves 35,86 are actuated by a lever 42 similar to the lever 32.-

The additional control member or valve mechanism is similar to the-valve-mechanism just describedybut has associated therewith, means for locking the valves in .their operated posi tions. Theselocking means are here shown as being operable at the will of the operator: as

distinguished from my copending application, f Sr. *No. 345',921,'filed March 11,1929, where these I located ma casing 47 and, connected by-a stem 48. The intakeend of the casing is connected to'the pipe 40 and the middle part of the easing between the valves 45 and 46 is connected by a pipe 49 to a port 50 at the intake endv of the cylinder 9. The casings 37, 47 are thus connected in series between the feed pipe 39 and A check valve 51 is located in the casing between the intake valve and the pipe 40 which permits increments of working fluid to fiowto the motor means or cylinder 9 thereof upon periodic operation of thecontrol means ,37so as to apply graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements. A lever52 actuates the valves or transfers the motion of, the operating Leaooo The locking means for the valves 45, 46 is usually pressure operated and comprises a diaphragm chamber 53 adjacent the casing 47, and a diaphragm 54 in the diaphragm chamber thrusting against a stem 55 which acts on one arm 56 of the lever 52. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 53 is connected by a pipe 57 to a valve casing 58, located preferably on the press head 2, to control the flow of air to the diaphragm chamber and hence lock the valves 45, 46 in their operated positions in order that the operator may let the press remain under final pressure as long as desired without the necessity of holding down a manual or pedal.

The valve means in the casing 58 of the locking intake valve 59 and a normally open exhaust valve 60 connected together by a stem 61. The intake end of the casing 58 is connected to a feed pipe 62 and the middle part of the casing between the valves is connected to the pipe 57 leading to the diaphragm chamber 53. The valves are operated by a manual lever 63, pivoted at 64 to abracket on theoasing 58, the lever having an angular arm 65 thrusting against the stem of the exhaust valve 60. The lever 63 is held in its normal and-its operated position by a spring 66 connected at 67 t0 the lever and at 68 to a fixed point on the valve casing 58. The spring is normally arranged at one side of cr above a dead center line passing through the points 67,68, 64 and passes to the other side of I normal or operated position in a manner well known in mechanics and quite common in electric switches. The lever '63 coacts with the bracket to which it is pivoted by a stop joint to prevent undue upward movement of the lever. The valve means above described with the diaphragm 54 comprise the means which is operable at will to lock thepress closed under any degree of heavypressure.

The operating member for effecting the successive operation of the flow or working fluid to valves which control the cylinders 20 and 9 in the construction here illustrated, and for successively operating'the levers 32, 42 and 52 comprisesa pedal operatedrod 69 guided in a bracket 70' on the frame 5 of the machine and having means coacting with said levers 32, 42 and 52 including a lost motion connection, between the rod and the lever '42, arranged to be taken up after the levers 32, and '52 and particularly the lever32 ha'sbeen operated. I

Ashe're illustrated, the motion of the rod 69 is transmitted to the levers 32, 52 through springs 71, 72 which are stifi enough to actuate the levers and operate the valves 25, 26 and 45, 46 but capable of yielding when the valves are operated 'so'that the rod may be further actuated to take up the lost motion between it and the lever 42 and to actuate the lever 42.

i To avoid fine adjustments and breakage of the parts, the motion of the rod is transmitted to the lever 42 through a spring 73.

locking device.

which the heads 80, 81 and 82 thrust and the head 82 is normally spaced from the lever 42 or its screw 82 to provide the lostmotion.

A single operator actuated means or pedal 83 is pivoted at 84 to the frame and at 85 to the lower end of the rod 69.

.The means for preventing a continuous one step operation of the pedal 83 orthe rod 69,

that is, for restraining the movement of the rod after the valves 25, 26 are operated and before. the valves 35, 36 are operated, is preferably a yielding restraining means instead of a positive This means, as'here shown, comprises a comparatively stiff spring 86 normally idle. or ineifective and arranged to come into action after the rod 69 has been moved far enough to operate the valves 25, 26.

In the illustrated embodiment of this inven tion, the spring 86 is located between abutments 87, 88, the former being held from movement relatively to the rod and the latter being slidable toward the abutment 87 but held by a shoulder 89 from movement away from the abutment 87. The abutment 88 is normally spaced from a fixed shoulder, as the bracket '70, far enough to provide a lost motion of sufiicient length to permit the rod 69 to be moved far enough to open the valves 25, 26 before the abutment 88 is'stopped by the bracket 70. Thus during the upward movement of the rod 69, by the pedal 83, the valves 25, 26 are first opened and thereafter the movement of the rod is restrained by the spring 86 by reason of the abutment 88 engaging the bracket 70. Thereafter, the pedal must be depressed by a conscious intentional effort to overcome the spring 86 and move the rod 69 far enough" to take up the lost motion between the head 82 and the lever 42 in order to operate the valves 35, 36.

In operation, the operator first lays the work on the buck land while completing the laying of the garment, he depresses the pedal 83 until further depression is restrained by the spring 86. This movement of the pedal 83 op crates the valves 25, 26 and permits air to enter the cylinder and actuate the piston 21, to bring the head 2 toward the buck 1, the operator withdrawing his hands out of the way during the operation as in foot presses. This preliminary movement of the pedal '83 also operates the lever 52 and valves 46, but as the valve casing 45 is in series with the casing 37 no air can pass to the cylinder 9 until the valves 35, 36 are operated. a I

After thepress is preliminarily closed, the operator with an intentional efiort, further depresses the pedal 83 against the stiff spring 86 causing the head 82 to actuate the lever 42 to diaphragm chamber 53 through the pipe 57, so

that the valves 45, 46 return to their normal position and hence cause the air to exhaust from the cylinder 9 through the pipe 49, casing 47, and past the exhaust valve 46.

, The pedal 83, when released, is returned to its normal position by the springs 86 and 75. and in so doing, permits the valves 25,26 to return to their initial position and the air to exhaust from the cylinder 20 through the pipe 30, casing 2'? past the exhaust valve 26.

What I claim is: s 1

l. In a'pressing machine, cooperating press-= ing elements, one of which is movable towardand from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element firsttoward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element and a single two step operating means for controlling the operation of, the power means through its two steps;

2. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step-power means for actuating the movable elementfirst toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, a two step operating resist the second step operationof the operating means.

3. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, members for controlling the first step and members for controlling the second step of the power means, and a single means for operating the controlling 'membe'rs successively.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperatingpressing elements; one of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other elementand second into'final pressing coaction with the'other element, members for controlling the first step, and members for controlling the 15 second step of the power means, and a pedal for operatingthe controlling members successively. s r I r 5. In a pressing "machine, cooperating pressing elements, oneof which is movable toward and from the other; a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, members for controlling the first and second steps of the power means 25 respectively,- a pedal for operating the controlling members successively, and means for resisting the operation-of the pedal at the end of the first step 5 operation" thereof. 4 1

6. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step pressure operated power means for actuating'the movable element first toward the other element and second-into finalpressing coaction therewith, valve means for controlling the flow of motive fiuid to the power means including one valve means for controlling the first step and another valve means for controlling the second step, and a single means controlling both valve means and controlling each valve means for operating the valve means successively. 1 '7. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element firstto ward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, a singletwo step operating means for controlling the operation of the power means through its two 15;

' elements, one of which is movable toward and 'ing means for controlling the operation of the power means through its two steps, means for steps, and means for locking the operating means in its operated position. a .n

8. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and irom the other, a two steppow'er means for actuating the movable element firsttoward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, a single two step operating means for controlling theoperation of the power meansthrough its two steps, and means for locking the movable element in its closed position at the end of the second step.

9. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressihg elements, onev of which is movable toward and irom the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and second into final pressing co-.

action with the other element, asingle two'step operating means for controlling the operation of the power means through its two. steps; and means for locking the movable element in its closed position at the end of ;the second step, said locking meansbeing inoperable to lock the movable element at the end of the first step.

1 l0. a pressing machine, cooperating pressing from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with the other element, a two step operatresisting a continuous one step operation of the operating means, and means for locking the movable elementiin its closed position at the end of the second step. 7

11, In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward the other element and second into final pressing with the other element, members forcontrolling and fromthe other, a two step power means for actuatingthe movable element first toward coaction with the other element, a single two step operating means for controlling theoperation of the. power means through its two steps, and means for locking the "operating meanslin its operated position at the end of the second step and thereby locking the movableelementclosed at the end of the second step. 7 s

1 2. Ina pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which ismovable toward and from the other, a-two step power means for actuating the movable element'first toward the other element andsecond into final pressingcoaction with the other element, a single two step operat- 4 ing means for controlling theoperation of the power meansthrough its two steps, and meansfor locking the movable element in its closedposition at theend of the second step, saidlocking means including an operating member carried by the movable element. 13. In apressing machine, cooperating .pressing, elements, one. of which is movable toward and from the other, a two step power means for actuating the movable, element first toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction the first step, and membersfor controllingthe sec nd Step, motion -means including operating parts individual thereto, and a single operating member-for said partsgand connected to the part which operates the control for the second step by ,9. lost motion connection arranged to talceup the lost motion afterthe part controlling the first ,stepis. operated. c

ing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the'other, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and secondinto final pressing coaction with the other element, means for controlling the firststep, a'ndmeans for controlling the second step, motion means including operating parts: individual to the control means, a singl'e'operating' member for said parts and connectedtothepart which operates the control for the-second'step by a lost motion connection arranged to take up the lo'strno'tion after thepart controlling the first stepis operated, and means for resisting the operation of the single operating member when the lost motion is taken up.

"'15. In a'pressing machine, cooperating pressing' elements, one of, which is movable toward and from thefother, a two step power means for actuating the movable element first toward the other element and second into final pressing coaction with theother element, members for controlling" thefirstand second steps respectively, motion im'ea'nfs including operating parts individual thereto, a single operating member for said" parts and connected to the'part which controls the second step by a lost motion connection arranged to take up the lost motion after the part controlling the first step is operated, and spring m ns for yieldingly restraining the operation 10f the single operating member when the lost motion is taken up. l6. Ina-garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the .press;meohanism ior operating the movablepressingelement'incliiding motor means; meansto controlthe now of working fluid to the motor means to close the press into preliminary closed position{ other means .LQDerable in one direction to control theflow of increments of working fluid to the motor means ,tov apply graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements, and operable iii-another direction to control the exhaust of a "portion of the working fluid from the motor means; and meansoperable at will to lockthe press closed under any degree of heavy pressure. r T

1'7. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination cooperativepressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the press; mechanism for operating the movable pressing 'e ment including motor meansymeans to control the flow of working fluid to the motor means to close the press into preliminary closed position; other meansoperable to conrol the fiow of increments of workingjluid to the .motor means to apply graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements; means opone of which is movable with respectto the other to close and openthe press; mechanism for operating the movable pressing element includlng a two stepfpower means; ,meansto control the operation of thepower means through its first step to close the press into preliminary closed position; other meansto control the operation of the power means throughits second step to apply heavy pressure 'to the pressing elements; means for locking the press closed under heavy pressure; and a manual carried by the movable pressing element, and operable independently of the heavy pressure control means, for operating the locking means.

19. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the press; mechanism for operating the movable pressing element including motor means; valve means to control the flow of working fluid to the motor means to close the press into preliminary closed position, a first and second combined intake and exhaust valve means connected in series with the motor means, a check valve between the first and second combined valve means to retain increments of working fluid in the motor means thereby permitting the application of graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements, means to lock the second combined intake and exhaust valve means in operated position, and operator actuated means to operate the locking means at will.

20. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the press; mechanism for operating'the movable pressing element includingmotor means; valve means to control the flow of working fluid to the motor means to close the press into preliminary closed position, a first and second combined intake and exhaust valve means connected in series with the motor means, a check valve between the first and second combined valve means to retain increments of working fluid in the motor means thereby permitting the application of graduated heavy pressure to the V pressing elements, a single pedal connected with both valve means so as to operate the second combined intake and exhaust valve means after the operation of the valve means to preliminarily close the press, means to lock the second combined intake and exhaust valve means in operated position, and operator actuated means to operate the locking means at will.

21. In a garment or laundry pressing machine, in combination, cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the press; mechanism for operating the movable pressing element including motor means; means to control'the flow of working fluid to the motor means'to close the press into preliminary closed position, a first and second combined intake and exhaust valve means connected in series with the motor means, a check ing the movable pressing element including a low power motor and a high power motor; means to control the flow of working fluid to the low power motor to close the press into preliminary closed position, a first and second combined intake and exhaust valve means connected in series with the high power motor, a check valve between the first and second combined valve means to retain increments of working fluid in the high power motor thereby permitting the application of graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements, means to lock the second combined intake and exhaust valve means in operated position, and operator actuated means to operate the locking means at will.

23. In a garment or laundry pressing machine,

in combination, cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other to close and open the press; mechanism for operating the movable pressing element including a low power motor and a high power motor; means to control the flow of working fluid to the low power motor to close the press into preliminary closed position, a first and second combined intake and exhaust valve means connected in series with the high power motor, a check valve between the first and second combined valve means to retain increments of working fluid in the high power motor thereby permitting the application of graduated heavy pressure to the pressing elements, a single pedal connected with both valve means so as to operate the second combined intake and exhaust valve means after the operation of the valve means to preliminarily close the press, means to lock the second combined intake and exhaust valve means in operated position, and operator actuated means to operate the locking means at will.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

